Incretins and their role in the management of diabetes

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review data from clinical trials of incretin mimetics in patients with type 2 diabetes. RECENT FINDINGS: Incretin mimetics are a new class of antidiabetic medication that mimic the actions of the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1. They exhibit several properties, including glucose-dependent stimulation of insulin secretion, suppression of glucagon secretion, slowing of gastric emptying and induction of satiety, which result in improvements in glycemic control with weight loss in patients with type 2 diabetes. Recent 2-year data with exenatide, the only commercially available incretin mimetic, have demonstrated long-term sustained reductions in hemoglobin A1c with progressive weight loss. Glycemic and weight benefits were also recently reported in a 15-week study assessing once-weekly administration of long-acting release exenatide, a formulation currently in phase 3 of clinical development. Once-daily administration of liraglutide, also in phase 3 of development, has recently been shown to improve glycemic and weigh control as monotherapy, and in combination with metformin. The most common side effects of incretin mimetics are gastrointestinal in nature, particularly nausea. SUMMARY: The ability of incretin mimetics to improve glycemic control and reduce body weight is a unique property that fills an important void in the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes.